The title of the ordinance appearing in this chapter is "A Comprehensive Ordinance Regulating and Limiting the Uses of Land and the Uses and Locations of Buildings and Structures; Regulating and Restricting the Height and Bulk of Buildings and Structures and Determining the Area of Yards and Other Open Spaces; Regulating and Restricting the Density of Population; Dividing the Township of Bethlehem into Districts for Such Purposes; Adopting a Map of Said Township Showing Boundaries and the Classification of Such Districts; Establishing Rules, Regulations and Standards Governing the Subdivision and Development of Land within the Township; Establishing a Planning Board and a Zoning Board of Adjustment; and Prescribing Penalties for the Violation of its Provisions."
The short form by which this chapter may be known shall be the "Land Development Ordinance of the Township of Bethlehem."
The chapter is adopted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., in order to promote and protect the public health, safety, morals and general welfare, and in the furtherance of the following related and more specific objectives:
A. 
To secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other natural and man-made disasters.
B. 
To provide adequate light, air and open space.
C. 
To ensure that the development of individual municipalities does not conflict with the development and general welfare of neighboring municipalities, the county and the state as a whole.
D. 
To promote the establishment of appropriate population densities and concentrations that will contribute to the well-being of persons, neighborhoods, communities and regions and to preservation of the environment.
E. 
To encourage an appropriate and efficient expenditure of public funds by the coordination of public development with land use policies.
F. 
To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety of agricultural, residential, recreational, commercial and industrial uses and open space, both public and private, according to their respective environmental requirements, in order to meet the needs of all New Jersey citizens.
G. 
To encourage the location and design of transportation routes which will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging location of such facilities and routes which would result in congestion or blight.
H. 
To promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements.
I. 
To promote the conservation of open space and valuable natural resources, and to prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the environment through improper use of land.
J. 
(Reserved).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection J, which related to planned unit developments, was repealed 6-15-1995 by Ord. No. 255-5-95.
K. 
To encourage senior citizen community housing construction.
L. 
To encourage coordination of the various public and private procedures and activities shaping land development with a view of lessening the cost of such development and to the more efficient use of land.
M. 
To promote the conservation of energy through the use of planning practices designed to reduce energy consumption, and to provide for maximum utilization of renewable energy sources.
The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements. Where this chapter imposes a greater restriction than is imposed and required by other provisions of law or by other rules, regulations or resolutions, the provisions of this chapter shall control. Where other laws, rules, regulations or resolutions require greater restrictions than are imposed by this chapter, the provisions of such other laws, rules, regulations or restrictions shall control.
All uses not expressly permitted in this chapter are prohibited, including but not limited to:
A. 
Any billboards, signboards, advertising signs or devices not expressly related to the business being conducted on the premises or otherwise specifically permitted by this chapter.
B. 
Junkyards, automobile wrecking or disassembly yards and the sorting or bailing of scrap metal, paper, rags or other scrap or waste materials.
C. 
This subsection is hereby intentionally left blank.
[Amended 11-18-2021 by Ord. No. 470.2021]
D. 
Privately operated dumps for the disposal of garbage, trash, junk, refuse and/or similar materials.
E. 
Open-air drive-in motion-picture theaters.
F. 
Adult bookstores, live entertainment centers and/or theaters which are characterized or distinguished by their emphasis on matters depicting, describing or relating to sexual activities.
G. 
All classes of cannabis establishments or cannabis distributors or cannabis delivery services as said terms are defined in section 3 of P.L. 2021, c. 16, excepting the delivery of cannabis items and related supplies by a delivery service be and hereby are prohibited in all districts.
[Added 7-15-2021 by Ord. No. 468.2021]
All applicable requirements shall be met at the first time of erection, enlargement, alteration, moving or change in use of a structure and shall apply to the entire structure or structures, whether or not the entire structure or structures were involved in the erection, enlargement, alteration, moving or change in use.